NEWS SECTION

Audio Presentations
To hear Dr. Cathy Greenblat click the Audio button. Cathy's interview is about her book: LOVE, LOSS, AND LAUGHTER: SEEING ALZHEIMER'S DIFFERENTLY. It was published recently after more than 7 years of work wanting to understand more about dementia. The book contains more than 110 of my photos, taken in 7 countries.	Audio
To hear Carol Eliot, President/CEO at Cedar Village in Cincinati, click the Audio button. Carol was interviewed by WVXU about art programming for residents with dementia. She talks about OMA, an art activity developed by Dr. Elizabeth Lokon. Carol also discussed the Wolf project/research in collaboration with Scripps. The Wolf research project is based on the Creative Expressive Abilities Assessment tool (CEAA) that was developed by Drs. Dalia Gottlieb-Tanaka, Peter Graf from the University of British Columbia and Hilary Lee from Australia.	Audio

Comments from the Burlington Conference, 2011

“I got something out of every presentation”
Thank you for a wonderful conference and the opportunity to meet many new friends and connections in Canada, Australia and beyond! Linda Levine Madori, PhD, St. Thomas Aquinas College, NY

“There were no egos in the room. It was all about sharing, giving and receiving ideas”
The conference was one of the few that I have attended over the years that made me stop, made me think and let me go away thinking new thoughts from a new perspective. I thank you and your team for that. Paula David, PhD, Institute for Life Course and Aging, University of Toronto

”I enjoyed everything. All presentations were excellent and the discussions were genuine and spontaneous”

The conference was a great learning experience for me. The speakers are very passionate about their work and they have all made valuable contribution(s) …. I heard real life stories of people who were great when they were healthy and full of life. Once they become ill with Alzheimer or dementia, they are forgotten. The Society for the Arts in Dementia Care is … connecting health and arts … by enriching the lives of people with dementia in collaboration with the health practitioner. From Maria Regina Goze, Student / Social Service Worker – Gerontology
Sheridan College, Trafalgar campus, Oakville, Ontario. Thoughts continued below …

“The conference is really great. Gave me valuable ideas, information that I would never get in any academic facility”

… There is a significant relationship between science and arts. The speakers, through their work and observations, showed how creative expression thru various art activities improves the physical and psychological ability of a person with dementia. It also recognized that the arts play a vital role in promoting health and wellness not only for the client but for the family and the caregiver. …"…" in improving the wellbeing of people who are ill with dementia, creative arts have given that person a new dimension of life. This is a place where they discover and learn new things that help them cope with the illness. The speakers … showed arts in theatre, making short film, photography, creating theme environment, painting, drawing, a variety of crafts, weaving, and music.

“ I enjoyed the holistic aspect the most – covering all areas of the arts in dementia care”

…The most significant part … is showing their work in an art show, awards night with wine and cheese … [to] provide self-esteem and joy to people with dementia, … awareness and surprise to the family and the community. We, who are not ill with dementia, can … see the person and not the illness. In the world of arts, they can express their emotion and feelings. … someday we could be one of them. The creative arts are a powerful tool in bridging the gap between three generations. … The creative arts are an impressive communication tool that brings families and community together.

“Incredible to see all this variety taking place all around the world”

… The conference has given me lots of information I can use for my work … I have gained valuable ideas that can be shared [with] the community and other organizations. The CECD should continue to give these kinds of conferences …[inviting] … students to be part of it … expos[ing] students to various programs in different countries. … advocates from other countries [can] learn different ways of using creative arts to bring awareness to our society.
Thanks, Maria

Dear Dalia and everyone who attended the Oct 3-4 2011 CECD conference:
I feel really privileged to be part of the Conference. It is great to be among so many dedicated professionals caring for people living with Dementia through creative expression programs and Arts. One of the most important learning [experiences] for me is that it is possible to teach people living with Dementia new skills…. film making, the theatre or visual arts, these are within the capabilities of many people despite their cognitive impairments. For me, the stories that are being shared by the presenters are strong evidence that creative expression activities have made positive impact[s] on lives and it is now up to me to create the opportunities to engage people living with Dementia in an enriched environment. Sock Gee Gan, Sheridan College

Much appreciated and thanks for organizing a wonderful and informative conference!
Rachel Gavendo, Recreation Therapist, Baycrest

“As a student, it really has opened my mind to many possibilities to improve care to residents of long term care homes”

This was my first CECD conference. Compared to the other conferences I have attended, CECD is quite small and intimate. That’s what I like the most … I was able to get to know many people with similar goals and interests. The collaboration that resulted from this conference is much greater than any of the other, larger conferences…. this is partly due to the focused theme of the Society for the Arts in Healthcare, and partly due to the size … I feel fortunate to get to know people in professional and personal terms before and after the conference, as well. A big thank you to all the people who worked behind the scenes and organizers of the conference. I hope this conference will continue beyond 2012.”

“This is all excellent information for what I am studying and what I do”

Thank you again for the wonderful conference. I am glad we all met. I had a lot of fun with everyone there. Thank you for all your hard work, Dalia. Elizabeth "Like" Lokon, PhD, Opening Minds through Art (OMA), Scripps Gerontology Center, Miami University

“Everyone came [away] with inspiring ideas and a wealth of knowledge”

Firstly, let me say how much I thoroughly enjoyed the workshop and conference this past weekend! It has certainly been a challenge to adjust back to reality again. Thank you, Dalia, for all of your efforts in producing this well organized and enlightening conference. Barb Thyssen, Horticulture Therapist

“… inspired by all who have attended here, presenters and participants alike”

Thanks also to Carmel for organizing the PowerPoint etc. so efficiently, I knew I didn't have to worry! Jeni Winslow, Maurice Zeffert home, Perth, Australia






Penticton Conference 2010 Newsletter

October 12, 2010

Shelley Klammer Reflects on the 5th International 2010 CECD Conference in Penticton, BC

As an artist, I feel passionate about engaging people of all walks of life in creativity - to whatever level that they can meet me at - as a form of empowered human connection and communication. I know how creativity reengages the souls of those who are isolated and disconnected. Yet I sometimes find it challenging within our healthcare and social systems to hold my higher vision as an art facilitator because there a common view is that engaging in creativity is a frivolous, non-necessary activity.

What I found at the 2010 conference on Creative Expression, Communication and Dementia was that artists, academia, and scientists/researchers alike are all discovering the same things that I am - in their own corners of the world. The findings are the same - self-expression and creativity is a form of communication, connection, self-empowerment and reengagement for those with dementia.

The 2010 conference itself was the embodiment of creativity and the communion and connection of passionate, creative, caring minds and hearts. At the conference I met creative visionaries who are getting their work out into the world in practical and healing ways. I also met steady, caring, and passionate front line practitioners, as well as dedicated researchers who are at the root of the funding for the expressive arts in healthcare.

I walked away from the conference feeling much firmer in my own findings and much more connected to a truth about creativity that I found other people around the world embody as well. The gift of the conference was the realization that I need to keep trusting my own vision and to continue to have faith in the meaning and purpose of what I am intuitively doing.

Thanks Dalia!

Shelley

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December 18, 2009

Sandy Croley Wins an Award of Excellence
The Quest for Excellence Program - Revera

"The Quest for Excellence (QE) Program recognizes and celebrates employees across all business units who provide outstanding care and services to Out Residents and/or their peers. Each year, nominations are received from the field for each of the twelve categories. Each nomination reflects our employees' commitment to excellence, their compassion, and the respect they show their Residents and each other. The nominations submitted are written to reflect continuous quality improvement; the purpose, process and outcomes for each nomination are described in detail. The nominations are reviewed by a panel of judges consisting of senior executives from all business units. The winners are notified in September of each year. Each year it becomes more and more difficult to choose one winner per category as there are so many examples of staff who go above and beyond-with over 100 nominations, 2009 was no exception! Successful nominees for 2009 were formally recognized at the Quest for Excellence banquet in November 2009. "

About Sandy Croley

Residents in care facilities in Vancouver are donating artwork to the permanent art collection of “The Society for the Arts in Dementia Care”

Artwork collected by us has been featured on the covers of such journals as The Canadian Review of Alzheimer’s Disease and other Dementias, Crosscurrents The Journal of Addiction and Mental Health and The Canadian Journal of Elder Law. Each work is accompanied with a brief description of the artist, and is published with the consent of the respective artist and their families. The Society makes sure that both the artist and their families receive copies of the journals, which feature their artwork.

Artwork by Agnes as published on the cover of The Canadian Journal of Elder Law and as was displayed at Mindscapes 2008 at the CECD Conference 2008